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Neuropsychiatric and Quality of Life (QoL) Aspects of Multiple Sclerosis,...
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Neuropsychiatric and Quality of Life (QoL) Aspects of Multiple Sclerosis, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Sclerosis (ISSN 2813-3064).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2025 | Viewed by 3618

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Pasquale Calabrese

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurology Unit, Division of Molecular and Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Basel, Birmannsgasse 8, 4055 Basel, Switzerland
Interests: multiple sclerosis; Parkinson’s disease; dementia; depression; stress and cognition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Multiple sclerosis (MS) remains one of the most prevalent chronic neurological disorders affecting young adults worldwide. Beyond the well-known sensorimotor challenges, MS often presents with a range of neuropsychiatric symptoms, including cognitive impairments, mood disturbances, and fatigue. These symptoms, which can sometimes appear as the initial manifestation of the disease, significantly affect both daily functioning and overall well-being. The impact of MS on quality of life (QoL) is profound, as these neuropsychiatric issues often become intertwined with the physical aspects of the disease.

Following the success of the first edition of this Special Issue, which featured 10 papers, we continue to explore the intricate relationship between cognitive and neuropsychiatric conditions in MS. This second edition invites original research articles, reviews, and case studies that advance our understanding of the impact of these conditions on mental health, QoL, and patient care. The aim is to further contribute to the growing body of knowledge and encourage interdisciplinary approaches that can lead to more effective management strategies for patients with MS facing these complex challenges.

Prof. Dr. Pasquale Calabrese
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sclerosis is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • multiple sclerosis
  • neuropsychiatric symptoms
  • quality of life
  • mental health

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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12 pages, 833 KiB  
Article
Acute Effects of Intermittent Walking on Gait Parameters and Fatigability in People with Mild Multiple Sclerosis
by Cintia Ramari, Ana R. Diniz, Felipe von Glehn and Ana C. de David
Sclerosis 2025, 3(3), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/sclerosis3030021 - 20 Jun 2025
Viewed by 246
Abstract
Introduction: Walking is perceived as the most important bodily function for persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and is impaired in more than 70% of pwMS. In addition, the effect of multiple sclerosis (MS) on gait pattern increases in fast walking and during [...] Read more.
Introduction: Walking is perceived as the most important bodily function for persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and is impaired in more than 70% of pwMS. In addition, the effect of multiple sclerosis (MS) on gait pattern increases in fast walking and during fatiguing exercises, altering the spatiotemporal gait parameters and walking reserve. Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of a 12 min intermittent-walking protocol on spatiotemporal gait parameters and on the fatigability of pwMS, as well as the association with perceived exertion and reported symptoms of fatigue. Methods: Twenty-six persons with relapse-remitting MS and twenty-eight healthy controls (HCs) were included in this cross-sectional study. The Modified Fatigue Impact Scale and the Symbol Digit Modality Test were used to evaluate fatigue symptoms and cognitive function, respectively. Participants walked six times during an uninterrupted 2-min period. Before, during the rest periods and after the last 2 min walk, the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was measured using the Borg Scale, and the spatiotemporal gait parameters were assessed with GaitRite. The cut-off value of 10% deceleration of the distance walked index classified pwMS into two groups: MS Fatigable (MS-F) and MS Non-Fatigable (MS-NF). One-way and two-way Analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to verify the effect of time and groups, respectively. Results: PwMS walked slower, travelled shorter distances, and presented shorter step lengths compared to HCs. No effects of the intermittent-walking protocol were found for all pwMS, but the MS-F group had deteriorated walking speed, step length, and cadence. Walking dysfunction was associated with perceived fatigability, reported symptoms of fatigue, cognitive function, and disability. Reported symptoms of fatigue was associated with perceived exertion but not with performance fatigability. Conclusions: Changes in gait parameters were weak to moderately associated with performance fatigability and the perception of effort and disability but not with reported fatigue symptoms, highlighting distinct constructs. The walking speed reserve and step length reserve also emerged as potential early markers of performance decline. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuropsychiatric and Quality of Life (QoL) Aspects of Multiple Sclerosis, 2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 1651 KiB  
Article
A Healthcare Providers’ Survey for the Cognitive Rehabilitation of Multiple Sclerosis in France: From Research to Real Life
by Hélène Brissart, Héloïse Joly, Clémentine Castro and Bruno Lenne
Sclerosis 2025, 3(2), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/sclerosis3020014 - 17 Apr 2025
Viewed by 792
Abstract
Introduction: Cognitive impairment (CI) is recognized as a very frequent feature of persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMSs). Multiple studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation (CR) in improving CI linked to cerebral functional connectivity facilitation and increased strategies to cope with daily [...] Read more.
Introduction: Cognitive impairment (CI) is recognized as a very frequent feature of persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMSs). Multiple studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation (CR) in improving CI linked to cerebral functional connectivity facilitation and increased strategies to cope with daily living activities. Nevertheless, there is considerable heterogeneity in the methodologies and protocols proposed to pwMSs. Aim: This study aimed to establish a current state of CR for pwMSs, among different types of healthcare providers (HCPs) in France. Methods: A Web-based survey was conducted between March and September 2024 among HCPs involved in the care of pwMSs. Results: One hundred and one HCPs involved in the care of pwMSs participated in this survey. CR was considered efficient by 97% of HCPs, especially when multimodal. Based on the responses, CR is proposed mainly following cognitive complaints, for moderate or severe cognitive disorders, and at the onset of the disease (45%). HCPs mentioned several obstacles to the implementation of CR, notably the cost of remediation (37%), and the lack of availability of both professionals (58%) and patients (51%). Conclusions: This rehabilitation requires specific tools combined with psychoeducative advice provided by multidisciplinary HCPs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuropsychiatric and Quality of Life (QoL) Aspects of Multiple Sclerosis, 2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 1007 KiB  
Article
Health Locus of Control and Its Relationship with Quality of Life and Functioning in Multiple Sclerosis: Exploring the Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy
by Isaac Rothman, Alan Tennant, Roger Mills and Carolyn Young
Sclerosis 2025, 3(2), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/sclerosis3020010 - 29 Mar 2025
Viewed by 436
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Health locus of control (LOC) refers to one’s perceptions of who or what controls one’s health. Recent evidence has found that chance LOC (CLOC) is associated with improved quality of life (QoL) in multiple sclerosis (MS). The purpose of the current study [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Health locus of control (LOC) refers to one’s perceptions of who or what controls one’s health. Recent evidence has found that chance LOC (CLOC) is associated with improved quality of life (QoL) in multiple sclerosis (MS). The purpose of the current study was to identify mediators and moderators of the LOC-QoL relationship in MS. Methods: For this study, 5266 participants with MS completed a questionnaire pack that included the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale, the Unidimensional Self-Efficacy Scale for MS (USE-MS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale—BREF (WHOQoL-BREF). The relationship between LOC and QoL was examined within a structural equation model (SEM). Results: In the total sample, self-efficacy was found to fully mediate the relationship between LOC and QoL for both internal (ILOC) and CLOC orientations. Powerful others LOC (PLOC) had no association with QoL. The same results were found for the relationship of LOC to functioning. In the secondary progressive MS subgroup, the relationship between CLOC and QoL was only partially mediated by self-efficacy. Conclusions: LOC influences QoL through its impact on self-efficacy, one of several potentially mediating factors between LOC and QoL in MS. Disability did not moderate the associations of LOC, but moderation of the CLOC-QoL relationship by disease subtype was found. Psychological training to improve self-efficacy in MS may be particularly useful in those subgroups where LOC-QoL is largely mediated by self-efficacy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuropsychiatric and Quality of Life (QoL) Aspects of Multiple Sclerosis, 2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 1176 KiB  
Article
The Use of Augmented Reality on a Self-Paced Treadmill to Quantify Attention and Footfall Placement Variability in Middle-Aged to Older-Aged Adults with Multiple Sclerosis
by Manuel E. Hernandez, Roee Holtzer, Meltem Izzetoglu and Robert W. Motl
Sclerosis 2025, 3(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/sclerosis3010003 - 17 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1082
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Footfall placement variability is associated with falls in older adults and neurological diseases. Thus, the study of dual-task gait impairment in middle-aged to older-aged adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) is clinically relevant, particularly in environments that mimic the obstacles experienced in daily [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Footfall placement variability is associated with falls in older adults and neurological diseases. Thus, the study of dual-task gait impairment in middle-aged to older-aged adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) is clinically relevant, particularly in environments that mimic the obstacles experienced in daily ambulation. Methods: A total of 10 middle-aged to older-aged adults with MS (eight female, mean ± SD age = 56 ± 5 years), 12 healthy older adults (HOAs, nine female, age = 63 ± 4 years), and 10 healthy young adults (HYAs, five female, age = 22 ± 3) were asked to perform cued walking (CW) or obstacle walking (OW) tasks without or with a concurrent backward alphabet recitation task (CWT, OWT), or dual tasks. Gait performance and attentional demands were measured using hit rate, stride velocity, footfall placement bias and variance, and prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenated hemoglobin HbO levels. Results: A significant dual-task condition-by-cohort interaction was seen in footfall placement bias and variance as indicated by a higher footfall placement bias and variance in dual-task vs. single-task conditions seen in HOAs, in comparison to HYAs and adults with MS. Further, a significant walking condition-by-cohort interaction was seen in the HbO levels as indicated by the higher PFC HbO levels seen in OW vs. CW in adults with MS, compared to adults without MS. Conclusions: The decreased accuracy and increased attention in footfall placement to visual cues on the ground observed in adults with MS and HOAs, relative to HYAs, may provide a marker for gait impairment and fall risk in older adults with MS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuropsychiatric and Quality of Life (QoL) Aspects of Multiple Sclerosis, 2nd Edition)
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9 pages, 753 KiB  
Opinion
Behavioral Activation Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis: Potential Effects on Cognition, Neuropsychiatric Symptoms, and Quality of Life
by Daniela Taranu, Hayrettin Tumani, Visal Tumani and Patrick Fissler
Sclerosis 2025, 3(2), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/sclerosis3020012 - 31 Mar 2025
Viewed by 399
Abstract
Behavioral activation therapy (BAT) was initially developed to treat depression and was subsequently extended as a transdiagnostic therapy for other psychiatric and neurocognitive disorders. However, research on its impact in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is lacking. We suggest that MS-adapted BAT reduces [...] Read more.
Behavioral activation therapy (BAT) was initially developed to treat depression and was subsequently extended as a transdiagnostic therapy for other psychiatric and neurocognitive disorders. However, research on its impact in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is lacking. We suggest that MS-adapted BAT reduces neuropsychiatric symptoms, neurocognitive impairment, social isolation, and impairment of activities of daily living—key components of MS-related quality of life. Our proposed adaptation of the traditional therapy includes a focus on increasing engagement in cognitive, physical, or social activities (activity demand characteristics) to improve cognition and daily life function. In addition, these activities should be individually perceived as energizing, relaxing, or meaningful (subjective activity characteristics) to benefit neuropsychiatric symptoms and social connectedness. Finally, we propose that BAT in MS should specifically focus on reducing stressful activities (i.e., unenjoyable, high-arousal activities) and increasing relaxing activities (i.e., enjoyable, low-arousal activities), as this dimension might tackle the neuroinflammatory etiology of MS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuropsychiatric and Quality of Life (QoL) Aspects of Multiple Sclerosis, 2nd Edition)
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